Lotion Bars

Have you ever noticed that when you use your body lotion your skin never stays moist and you find yourself going back to the lotion bottle over and over?  Look at the ingredients in your lotion and see if your lotion contains isopropyl alcohol and/or mineral oil.  Both of these actually are very drying to your skin.  

The alcohol gives a temporary sense of coolness due to evaporation. Mineral oil is found in lotions, soaps, baby oil, cosmetics, and motor oil. Mineral oil is a clear, liquid oil with no scent and will not spoil. It is very inexpensive because it is produced as a byproduct of the distillation of gasoline from crude oil. It is great for oiling your wooden cutting boards--but not your skin. Mineral oil does not penetrate to soften. It is difficult to absorb, coats your skin, and clogs the pores.  

If you would like to have healthy skin, stay away from mineral oils, petroleum, and synthetic oil based skincare. Lab created oils clog pores, aggravate acne, trigger allergic reactions, and makes the skin feel heavy and greasy. Remember, the skin is the body's largest organ and it needs to breathe as part of its important role in maintaining overall health!  Also, the high water content of liquid lotions can further dry and irritate the skin as evaporation takes place.

Lotion bars are a unique and fun way to moisturize your body
Use lotion bars as you would any lotion - they're just solid, not liquid. To use, hold the bar between your hands until it begins to soften to the touch. Massage the lotion bar onto your hands for a few seconds, and let the wonderful oils soak in. Your hands will feel so good!  When you use your lotion bar for the first time you might think your hands feel oily--please wait a minute or two. All of the oils will quickly absorb into your skin--for the softest skin ever. Lotion bars are made with natural oils that will not simply grease and coat the surface of your skin. Even better they are so simple to make and require such few ingredients you will never want to go back to traditional lotion again!

The few things you will want to buy (luckily only once because the supplies will last forever, you will only have to replenish ingredients) is a simple silicone or heat safe plastic mold in whatever shape and size you desire (I prefer small shapes that fit nice in the hand and are good for travel).

You can start by making the lotion bars in a pot that you want to designate for this and a simple funnel or you can purchase a small metal pouring pot (usually around $10 or less at craft store or online) and use this in a pot with water which is the double boiler method of heating. 

Here is the recipe, its so simple really... One part is 1/4 cup to fill one full tray but this will vary. You can use smaller amounts too just as long as you follow the equal parts on the recipe.

DIY Lotion Bars

• 1 part beeswax
• 1part coconut oil
• 1/2 part butter of choice (mango, shea or cocoa) **Cocoa butter is my favorite!
• 1/2 part nutrient rich oil of choice (I love almond or avocado but olive oil is just fine!)
• 1 tsp essential oil of choice (my personal favorites for this are lavender or peppermint)

Directions:

1. Melt the beeswax first, add the rest of the oils
2. When fully melted, add essential oil last
3. Pour while liquid into tray
4. Allow to cool and harden (you can put tray in fridge to speed up the process) 
5. Pop out lotion bars and put in small containers with lids.

I keep these in my purse, in my bathroom and around the house. I use them mostly on my hands and arms but sometimes as a lip gloss and great full body moisturizer. Enjoy!

Herbal Shampoo

I love making my own products!  I know what is going in them by doing it myself.  Conventional shampoos contain harmful chemicals.  They strip your hair of its own natural oils.  I have even used so called "good" shampoo and it gives me such a dry scalp.  I have made coconut milk shampoo and that has worked great, but I love herbs!  I wanted to make an herbal shampoo.  Now, it doesn't look pretty but it works.  Both the coconut milk shampoo and this herbal shampoo do not cause dry scalp for me.  

I want to give forewarning; shampoos that you make yourself do not lather well.  Just know that they will clean your hair.  I have also heard people complain that their hair is too oily after trying DIY shampoos.  That is because the hair is used to being stripped of its natural oils and it thinks that it needs to keep producing a lot of oil.  It will get used to your new routine.  Be patient.






This recipe was inspired by Life Source

Herbal Shampoo Recipe
Ingredients

•     1 c. distilled water (ensures there's no bacteria being added to it)
•     2 tsp. dried rosemary
•     2 tsp. dried rose petals
•     1/4 c. liquid castile soap
•     3 T. pure aloe vera gel
•     1/8 tsp. jojoba oil
•     35 drops rosemary essential oil

Directions

1. Place the rosemary and rose petals in a jar.
2. Fill the jar with boiling water, place a lid over the jar and let steep for at least 30 minutes or until the liquid is cool.
3. Strain the herbs and place the liquid in a shampoo bottle or jar of your choosing.
4. Add the castile soap, aloe vera gel, jojoba oil and essential oil.
5. Shake well.  Remember to shake the shampoo each time before you use it. 

The shampoo should last for several weeks.  If it takes you longer to use it, you might want to consider refrigerating it to prolong its shelf life.  I like to rinse my hair with a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water.  I added a few drops of rosemary and lavender essential oil to it also.

It is so much better for yourself and your hair if you make your own shampoo!  The big companies that are making shampoos don't care that the chemicals they are putting in are toxic to our bodies.  As long as we keep buying it, they will keep making it.  Let's show them that we don't want to be toxic!  Make your own! 

Sugar Scrub

You might be asking why use a sugar scrub? One word, desquamation. Des-qua-what? 

Desquamation is the natural shedding and peeling of the outermost layers of the skin. When you use an exfoliant it helps the desquamation process move a little quicker, therefore leaving you with more radiant looking skin. Sugar scrubs, which can be considered an exfoliant, help remove the impurities, excess oil and dead skin cells (doing this improves the appearance of the skin). Also, when you exfoliate your blood circulation increases, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to the skin cells, therefore also improving the color of your skin.

This is why you need more than just a face wash to cleanse your skin. 

By using a sugar scrub weekly, you will see a huge difference in the way your skin looks and feels. Please keep in mind exfoliating too much can damage the skin so it's best to do it 1-3 times weekly, with the sessions spread out.

One of the wonderful things about homemade sugar scrubs is they are made with all natural ingredients so there are no harsh side effects. The other benefit to making your own scrub is being able to control what sort of ingredients go into your recipe. This means that you can use a sugar scrub no matter if you have oily, dry, combination or mature skin.

There are different kinds of ingredients to help hydrate skin such as pure essential oils, vitamin E or butters (mango, shea or cocoa). You can add and personalize the scent by choosing one or more essential oils that you love.  If you want a calming effect the best essential oil to use is lavender but if you want an energizing feeling peppermint is the way to go.

The creativity is endless with this scrub so take my recipe and make it your own by personalizing it and choosing scents and oil combinations to your preference. You may even want to get a book on aromatherapy to see which essential oils are best to use.  I recommend looking up nourishing oils, essential oils and butters and their individual benefits online to see which ones you are drawn to and go from there. They are all wonderful so it's a personal preference type of thing. I rarely buy books on this subject anymore when there is so much free and great information online.

My favorite container for this scrub is a glass jar with lid and seashell to use as a scooper. You can however use a BPA free plastic container with a lid and a mini scooper of any kind will do just fine. This recipe makes a full 4 oz container but you can double the recipe to make it larger. Start with the least amount of scent and increase to your liking. Also please experiment with different types of sugars. I have made this scrub with all kinds of sugars and combos. My favorite is turbinado because of how course it is but I love finer sugars, even brown sugar or a combination. You can even add real salt to change it up a little, anything exfoliating is great for your skin!

If you are unsure if your face will be too sensitive it's always good to test it on the back of your hand.

As always, organic is usually best for these ingredients.

DIY Sugar Scrub

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Raw Turbinado Cane Sugar
• 1/4 cup Coconut oil
• 1 TBL avocado or olive oil (or other nutrient rich oil of choice)
• *optional* 3 drops vitamin E oil (so good for your skin if you have it)
• 1/8 tsp essential oil of choice or combination of choice (add more to your liking if you want) 
• 1, 4oz glass jar with lid
• sea shell or some other mini scooper

Directions:

• Mix all the ingredients together and place in desired container

To use the scrub, wash your face with warm water and take a small amount of scrub on your finger tips and massage gently. Massage a minute or so and wash off with warm water.

Other variations include making the scrub with clays such as white kaolin clay or mineral rich volcanic ash clay. You can add flax seed or poppy seeds as another means of exfoliants. The possibilities really are endless so have fun and enjoy!!!

Utlimate Detox Bath

~~~Ultimate Detox Bath~~~

Indulge...You deserve it!

**Bring a bottle of water with you because this works and you need to stay hydrated!!**

You can make your own mixture with other ingredients, but the basic ingredients are as follows:

-2 cups of Epsom salt (and add in another cup for every 50 pounds you are over 100 pounds)
-2 cups of baking soda
-1/3 cup of ground ginger
-Your choice of mint, herbs, or essential oils

Add all of those things (or your favorite optional ingredients) into a hot bath as it is running, and swish it around until it is as dissolved as possible. Jump in and enjoy. Be warned though...you WILL sweat, and quickly. The more ginger you use, the more you will sweat, and you can expect some pink skin within just a few minutes. Soak for at least 45 minutes, hop out and into a fluffy towel, and then spend the next fifteen minutes trying to remember your first name.

WD-40 uses

WD-40 Uses:
1. Protects silver from tarnishing.
2. Removes road tar and grime from cars.
3. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.
4. Gives floor that 'just-waxed' sheen without making them slippery.
5. Keeps the flies off of Cows, Horses, and other Farm Critters, as well. (Ya gotta love this one!!!)
6. Restores and cleans chalkboards.
7. Removes lipstick stains.
8. Loosens stubborn zippers.
9. Untangles jewelry chains.
10. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
11. Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
12. Keeps ceramic / terracotta garden pots from oxidizing.
13. Removes tomato stains from clothing.
14. Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.
15. Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
16. Keeps scissors working smoothly.
17. Lubricates noisy door hinges on both home and vehicles doors.
18. It removes that nasty tar and scuff marks from the kitchen flooring.
It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off.
Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.
19. Remove those nasty Bug guts that will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly!
20. Gives a children's playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.
21. Lubricates gearshift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers...
22. Rids kids rocking chair and swings of squeaky noises.
23. Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.
24. Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.
25. Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.
26. Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.
27. Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.
28. Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.
29. Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.
30. Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.
31. Removes grease splatters from stove-tops.
32. Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.
33. Lubricates prosthetic limbs.
34. Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).
35. Removes all traces of duct tape.
36. Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.
37. Florida's favorite use is: 'cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers.'
38. The favorite use in the state of New York, it protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.
39. WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a little on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose.
Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states.
40. Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.
41. It is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray it on the marks and wipe with a clean rag.
42. Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and rewash. Presto! The lipstick is gone!
43. If you spray it inside a wet distributor cap, it will displace the moisture, allowing the engine to start.

Facts on Honey and Cinnamon

Facts on Honey and Cinnamon:
It is found that a mix of honey and cinnamon cures most diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of today also note honey as very effective medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without side effects which is also a plus.Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, when it is taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm even diabetic patients. Researched by western scientists:

HEART DISEASES: Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, put it on toast instead of jelly and jam and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol and could potentially save one from heart attack. Also, even if you have already had an attack studies show you could be kept miles away from the next attack. Regular use of cinnamon honey strengthens the heart beat. In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as one ages the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and the veins.

ARTHRITIS: Arthritis patients can benefit by taking one cup of hot water with two tablespoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. When taken daily even chronic arthritis can be cured. In a recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week (out of the 200 people so treated) practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain -- and within a month, most all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis now started walking without pain.

BLADDER INFECTIONS: Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder....who knew?

CHOLESTEROL: Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water given to a cholesterol patient was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, when taken three times a day, any chronic cholesterol-could be cured. According to information received in the said Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.

COLDS: Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and, clear the sinuses, and it's delicious too!

UPSET STOMACH: Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also is said to clear stomach ulcers from its root.

GAS: According to the studies done in India and Japan, it is revealed that when Honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

IMMUNE SYSTEM: Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacterial and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of Honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles (where DNA is contained) to fight bacterial and viral diseases.

INDIGESTION: Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food is eaten relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals

INFLUENZA: A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural 'Ingredient' which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.

LONGEVITY: Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Use four teaspoons of honey, one teaspoon of cinnamon powder, and three cups of boiling water to make a tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age. Life spans increase and even a 100 year old will start performing the chores of a 20-year-old.

RASPY OR SORE THROAT: When throat has a tickle or is raspy, take one tablespoon of honey and sip until gone. Repeat every three hours until throat is without symptoms.

PIMPLES: Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it off the next morning with warm water. When done daily for two weeks, it removes all pimples from the root.

SKIN INFECTIONS:Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin Infections.

WEIGHT LOSS:Daily in the morning one half hour before breakfast and on an empty stomach, and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup of water. When taken regularly, it reduces the weight of even the most obese person. Also, drinking this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.

CANCER: Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder three times a day for one month.

FATIGUE: Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts are more alert and flexible. Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a half tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, even when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, when taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3:00 P.M., the vitality of the body increases within a week.

BAD BREATH: People of South America, gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water first thing in the morning so their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

HEARING LOSS: Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal parts restores hearing.

Remember when we were kids? We had toast with real butter and cinnamon sprinkled on it!

Brookies

1 scoop of brownie batter + 1 scoop of cookie dough in a muffin pan = brookies!

Crock Pot Lasagna

1 pound Ground Beef
Lasagna noodles
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Brown ground beef and drain. Spoon 1 C. spaghetti sauce in bottom of 4 quart crock pot. Mix remaining sauce with beef. Place 2 uncooked lasagna noodles on sauce in crock pot. Spread 1/3 meat mixture on top of noodles. Spread 3/4 C. cottage cheese over meat. Sprinkle 1/2 C. mozzarella cheese over cottage cheese. Add another layer of uncooked noodles, 1/3 meat mixture, the remaining cottage cheese and 1/2 C. mozzarella cheese. Place another layer of uncooked noodles, meat mixture, and mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over top. Cook on low for 4 hours.
If cooked much longer, it gets a bit well done.

Urban Chickens

If free range chickens are "illegal" in your area, make a chicken tractor. Moving every day or two gives the chickens fresh greens and insects and simulates a free range environment, while also fertilizing their future grazing area. These 5 chickens yield 3-5 eggs every 24 hours. A 4 X 8 tractor, like this one, is large enough for 10 chickens.

A family can get 3-5 eggs a day from 5 chickens in the peek of the laying season, middle spring until late summer. Eggs from your backyard are wayyyyy better for you than anything from the store. Also if you supplement the chickens' diet with flax seed you can make super omega 3 eggs. The omega 3 egg yolks are a great first food for your little ones too. Oh and if they are illegal in your town, go ahead and not listen crap.. :)

How to Clean Your Shower Easily

www.practicallyfunctional.com

Vinegar isn't just for cooking, it’s also for cleaning everything at home, your shower included! And it does an amazing job. The weird and (sometimes) filthy smell in your bathroom can be eliminated pretty amazing. 

oven-roasted sausages, potatoes, and peppers

smallest effort/biggest taste payoff recipe evar

behold, an oven pan laden with delicious food (a LOT of it) that is cost-effective, EASY EASY EASY, and delicious.  when i say “easy” here, i don’t mean “for the beginner cook” easy.  i mean any blathering idiot can make this.

this recipe will serve 3-4 adults, or one bachelor again and again.

kiddo alert:   should be good to go.

get it:

• 1 package (at least 1 lb) of your favorite sausage links (johnsonvilles, evergood, generic smoked sausage, whatever you like.  i used polish sausages, 4 to a pack)
• 4-5 decent-sized potatoes (i prefer yukon gold or red bliss)
• 1 small jar banana peppers
• 1-2 bell peppers, sliced
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 3 tbsp olive oil (yes, it has to be OLIVE oil)
• salt & pepper
• *optional — 2 tsp dried rosemary (bachelors, ignore this.  your salt and pepper will be fine.  i know that asking you to procure olive oil was already a stretch.)
• *optional — 3 tbsp creole seasoning

make it:

1. spray a large baking pan w/ nonstick spray (make sure there is at least a small “lip” that provides a “side” to the pan, don’t use a flat baking sheet.
2. slice sausages into thin rounds, about 1/5″ thick.  if you know how to slice using a “bias” cut, do that.  if not, don’t worry about it.
3. cut potatoes into 1/2″ chunks
4. slice onion and pepper into strips
5. place all ingredients on baking sheet and drizzle oil over.  use your hands to toss everything together in the oil, making sure everything feels coated.
6. add salt & pepper and spices (if using)
7. top w/ sliced banana peppers
8. bake at 400 for about 30-35 min, until potatoes are tender
9. EAT